One of the most frequently asked questions I get from my clients is: "What is the difference between an escort card and a place card"? These terms often get used interchangeably - even within the industry - but there is a difference! Most of the time, all you really need for your seating arrangements are escort cards.

Escort Cards are located on a centralized table and indicate what table the guest is seated at. Each guest (or couple) receives his or her own card with their assigned table number. Tented cards are the most typical, but these days, brides and grooms are getting much more creative with the presentation of the cards.

Place Cards on the other hand, are located at each place setting and indicate to guests exactly where to sit at the table. These are typically found at more formal events, but are not necessary, as most guests can decide where to sit around the table.

I don't remember the date specifically, but this Chicago Tribune article claims that Liz Claiborne's "Season of Color" compact came out in March of 1993. I'm guessing I received it as a birthday present the following month. This Swiss Army Knife of beauty was my makeup BFF for a solid year after that.

With holes at the top for lipstick, mascara, and applicators, the flippy compact also contained eyeshadow, blush, and two mirrors on the inside. No bigger than a deck of cards, it was complete enough for full touch-ups after gym (or English, or band, or anytime I opened my locker...ok, I was one of those girls who never passed up an opportunity to fluff).

High school is long past, but busy days (wedding days!) still call for powerful makeup kits. While I haven't seen anything like "Season of Color" since, here are four compacts that pull double duty with aplomb.

The Clinique and Trish McEvoy compacts are the most complete of the bunch. Of course, Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Bricks are well-known and adored. You can brush over the entire brick for an overall glow, or use an applicator to swipe just specific colors for highlighting, eyeshadow, blush. The POP compact has similar uses, plus features the sweet butterfly shape. Have you seen any other versatile compacts?

Today's post is part of the #HolidayHQ Blog Hop. See the links below for more posts from the best party and entertaining experts, and join us tonight at 8pm EST on Twitter for our #HolidayHQ chat.

If Mom is a culinaire, why not surprise her with a gift that's both practical and a bit unique? I found these eight trendy items last month at the International Housewares Association show. Best in show, for sure!

This ingenious product makes two-inch round balls of ice. You can fill it with just water or get creative with mint leaves, basil, juice, lemon or lime segments, etc. Large cubes are great for bourbon or whiskey drinks, as they won't melt as fast as regular ice.

Please take a peek at the rest of the #HolidayHQ posts. So many terrific ideas for Mother's Day!

I am not the world's most efficient gift wrapper. Oh, I'll admit...my presents look nice when finished, but I almost always end up wasting more paper than I should. I used to carefully watch the ladies at the Marshall Field's wrapping counter, hoping their formidible skill with scissors, tape, and paper would rub off on me but - nothing. I'm always making trims here and there, winding up with a healthy pile of scraps. Not very economical, nor very green.

Someone who's much better at this is Sheryl Oberman, owner and founder of The Stationery Station in Highland Park, on Chicago's North Shore. They're celebrating their 35th anniversary this year (congrats!) and in addition to offering an exceptional invitation and stationery selection, Sheryl and co. are well known for their meticulously wrapped gifts in beautiful, embellished paper. I asked Sheryl if she'd film a quick tutorial on how to beautifully and efficiently wrap presents, and happily, she obliged. Take a look and learn!

Now that you know how to nicely wrap a present, if you're ever in Highland Park (Ravinia starts soon!), stop by The Stationery Station to pick up the perfect paper.

Looking for a hostess gift to put in that beautifully wrapped box? A few suggestions...

You know you should eat leafy greens, which is why you routinely add a bag o' salad to your shopping cart. But really, nothing beats fresh salad greens. Fortunately, growing your own lettuce, spinach or radishes is easy to do, even if you live in a small space. It’s also a great project for children to teach them how plants grow and where food comes from.

Where to plant

To start, you’ll need a bright sunny window. Usually an east or south-facing window will give you the good six or more hours of sun needed for most greens. Think about where your heating vents are placed. Most plants prefer to be away from vents as they blow drying air on their pots, which can dry out tender roots and foliage.

What to plant

Pick out your seeds or transplants. I prefer to grow salad greens from seed as they germinate within about a week and I can get more bang for my buck. As you are choosing types of plants, remember what your family prefers to eat. I like to do a mix of peppery varieties, sweet lettuce and a few with red leaves to add color. Radishes go in a separate pot for easy snacking. Radish greens can add a wonderful zing to salads, too.

Pick a container

Crops do best when their roots have plenty of room, so a deeper container is usually best. Be creative! A square of burlap over a colander makes a great salad bowl that can be featured as a centerpiece. Use new potting soil to fill your containers. A soil with slow release fertilizer ensures your plants will have the nutrients they need.

Grow plants, grow!

It's time to plant! Read the directions on the package of seeds for planting depth and spacing. You can crowd your pot if you plan on using the plants as micro-greens. Space out a bit more if you plan to let them mature. Thin out seedlings to provide enough room for roots.

Keep the pot evenly moist, but not sopping wet. As your plants grow, you may choose to use the whole plant or harvest just a few leaves. Pick leaves from the base, leaving a few to keep the plant going. You may also pinch back the first or second set of leaves of leggy lettuce to keep it more compact.

Reaping the rewards

As you harvest your greens, you can keep adding seed to stretch out your crop. Lettuce and spinach are cool-weather crops, so they may bolt or become bitter when temperatures rise. The good news is you can start a fresh batch around Labor Day for fall salads.